Child development milestones: 6 to 9 months

Kids grow up fast. By nine months, children are beginning to pick up small things and may be ready for solid food.

Foods and feeding skills

Children are usually ready for solid food around 6 to 9 months. Consult your pediatrician to determine when your child is ready. Rice cereal and other baby cereals with iron are great first foods for balanced nutrition. After that, parents can start introducing pureed or mashed fruits and veggies.

Development

By 9 months children are trying out that "pincer" motion, using their thumb and index fingers to pick up small objects, and they may be ready to eat Original Cheerios. They use their arms to creep forward and start becoming shy around people they don't see every day.